Led To The Holy Spirit

Paul is in Ephesus, facing disciples of Jesus who are ignorant of the Holy Ghost. This is not the day of Pentecost, by any means, but what a Pentecostal outpouring took place there.

Many of us may not be ignorant of the Holy Ghost, for we have heard of Him, talk about Him and even pray to Him. However, we are ignorant of Him in terms of what He does in those whom He inhabits. We are ignorant of the living, active, working power He gives to be witnesses of Jesus, crucified, risen and ascended, Lord.  This is exactly what Jesus told the disciples to expect when they received the Promised Gift. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1: 8. Many a believer is ignorant of the power of the Holy Spirit.

I know for myself, that I daily ask our heavenly Father to save me from ignorance, in that I hold on proudly to the fact that I am a believer, that I am a disciple, that I know about the Holy Spirit, that I believe in the Holy Spirit, but I am totally powerless to do His works. To receive power to be our Jesus’ witnesses, is to receive power to be Jesus in word and work. I know that I am not alone in this, for many, like me are thankful for this opportunity to face reality, and seek help and change from all falseness to which we cling.

So we are being led also by Paul as he leads and guides these disciples on higher ground as it were, so that after meeting him they will be completely different in word and works. Listen carefully to Paul and you see the wisdom, mind and manner of Jesus, with every word and move he makes. Whatever Paul noticed when he saw those disciples, he was led to ask a question about the Holy Spirit. Note carefully that Scripture tells us that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus and found some disciples. Acts 19: 1b. He was alone at the time and must have been happy to find disciples. Paul never asked them whether or not they were disciples; whether or not they were believers; whether or not they were Christians.

He just asked one question. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? This has made me do some deeper thinking, as I am shown up even here in the things I speak and how I think. Too many of us are bent fast on asking and speaking about people being Christians and we have no care whether or not they have received the Holy Spirit. May God grant us hearing ears, seeing eyes and receptive spirits.

Now check Paul’s leading and guiding. When they tell him no, he changes the topic from the Holy Spirit to baptism. Listen again. Be wise! Paul is not really moving from the Spirit, but he moves their minds to what they know. He moves from what they do not know to what they know. He asks them about their baptism, for as disciples they would have received baptism. They were all quick and happy to say that they are a baptised people, for they have received John’s baptism.

They are not ignorant about John’s baptism for they have received it, know it and live it. I asked about this, whether or not they were disciples of John, and was told that they were disciples of Jesus, who knew the baptism of water, John’s baptism. It made me stop in my tracks, for I then heard that it is no different from many a disciple of Jesus today. Many of Jesus’ disciples know the baptism of water, John’s baptism and live its truth, but are ignorant of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.    

Paul then enters into deep theological teaching, as he takes his time to explain about the two baptisms which are very separate and distinct. Before we look into it tomorrow, we are drawn to Jesus’ words as He speaks to His own disciples. Jesus is about to ascend into heaven and He is also teaching and speaking some deep theological truths to His disciples about Pentecost and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1: 4b – 5. Two separate baptisms, and Jesus ensures that His disciples know the difference.